Syrian paper accuses UN chief of encouraging "terrorists"

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Syrian state-run newspaper accused UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday, April 28, of encouraging "terrorist" rebel attacks by focusing his criticism on the government, while other government media reported that the navy foiled an infiltration attempt by gunmen who tried to land on the Syrian coast in rubber boats.

The editorial in Tishrin daily came a day after Ban said Syrian President Bashar Assad's continued crackdown on protests has reached an "intolerable stage." It also followed what the state media said was a suicide attack in Damascus that left 10 dead.

On Saturday, activists said army defectors clashed briefly with troops in the coastal town of Burj Islam, which is home to the presidential summer palace. They had no immediate word on casualties. Assad was not believed to be in the palace at the time of the fighting.

Tishrin said Ban has avoided discussing rebel violence in favor of "outrageous" statements against the Syrian government. "The continued disregard of the international community and its cover for armed groups' crimes and terrorist acts ... is considered as direct participation in facilitating and carrying out the terrorism to which Syria is subjected," the editorial said. "Such a stance seemingly encourages those groups to go on committing more crimes and terrorist acts."